Blues fans can dare to dream
The Blues are giving their fans a reason to believe. Breaking an 18-year Super Rugby title drought with the Transtasman title in 2021, there’s no reason they can’t back that up in 2022. The performance in their 53-26 win over the Reds at Eden Park last night in front of almost 20,000 fans gives a clear indication why.
The Blues showed when effort and execution are taken care of, good things will happen. Getting the better of the collision, bodies behind the ball and forcing the Reds to chase them around the park, the Blues were superb in most areas as they claimed their 11th straight win.
Guilty of being over-eager around the breakdown in the first half, on the wrong side of a 9-2 penalty count, they addressed that and saw the penalty count level out.
They didn’t force anything early either. The Blues wore down the Reds before looking to stretch them with ball in hand, and they took full advantage when they could. It wasn’t a perfect performance, with several loose balls and passes going to ground, and Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu was often given too much room. But for the most part, it was an impressive showing of what this team could be capable of come the playoffs.
The Blues withstood an early charge from the Reds. With some early momentum, the Reds tried to play everything quickly. But quick lineouts and taps from penalties couldn’t catch out the Blues.
It was the effort of the Blues early that was the defining feature. While they were getting the better of the collision, the chase on long kicks down field and to get to the tackle soon saw the pendulum swing.
The Blues took a hit 10 minutes in when Rieko Ioane left the pitch with a left hamstring issue, but his replacement Bryce Heem was more than up to the task.
Moments later, he scored after running a brilliant line to get on to a short ball from Beauden Barrett, splitting the gap in the defence.
Caleb Clarke followed suit four minutes later, and the Blues were on the charge.
When the Reds got their set piece right, they built off the back of it, and with terrific pick-and-go play from close range, they scored through Vunivalu before Ryan Smith went over from close range — a second Heem try separating the two.
The Blues turned up the heat after the restart. The Reds were slow out of the tunnel and the Blues sensed they were there for the taking.
Keeping ball in hand and moving it quickly, the hosts found gaps in the Reds’ line, and scored through Clarke and Barrett within five minutes of the restart.
The Blues had almost all of the football through the first 15 minutes
of the half, and when Stephen Perofeta crossed with 23 minutes to go, the result looked all but assured.
The Reds used what little ball they had well. Two trips into Blues territory led to two tries to Jock Campbell as the Blues defence began to lose shape under pressure.
However, it was the Blues’ night, with the win keeping them atop the standings with two rounds left. Blues 53 (Bryce Heem 2, Caleb Clarke 2, Soane Vikena 2, Beauden Barrett, Stephen Perofeta tries; Perofeta 5 cons, pen) Reds 26 (Jock Campbell 2, Suliasi Vunivalu, Ryan Smith tries; James O’Connor 3 cons). HT: 22-14.
The Hurricanes overcame a poor first half to take down the Waratahs 22-18 in Sydney last night.
The visitors were down 15-0 at the break, and could have been in a bigger hole if not for some strong defence under a wave of early Waratahs territory and possession.
The next 15 points came from the Hurricanes, though, with Tevita Mafileo burrowing over soon after halftime and Bailyn Sullivan crossing in the corner.
With 12 minutes to go, the Waratahs broke their scoring drought with a penalty to go up by three, but with five minutes remaining, Ardie Savea powered over from close range to put the Hurricanes in front for the first time.
The Waratahs’ late hopes were dented when reserve prop Paddy Ryan was sent off for a shoulder to the head of Jordie Barrett, and the Hurricanes held on for a victory that lifts them from seventh to fourth.